Starting problems

[Highway Man]

Other issues

Thanks a bunch everybody. The feedback has been great. Upon doing a little research I am aware that if the coil wire is indeed the culprit replacing it may not neccessarily solve my starting problem. It will depend if the current was backfeeding into the coil and frying it in the process. So I could be looking at replacing a coil and ignition module as well. I don't have a spare coil wire laying around to do the plug test and when I went to the local auto parts stores they don't have one that is compatible with the ignition either. The plug on the coil wire distributor end is male instead of female. I think my service manual gave info on doing a coil check so I am going to go back and look at that again. I will keep everyone posted on how this plays out.

 

[vetteoz]

I think my service manual gave info on doing a coil check so I am going to go back and look at that again.

Did you follow through the diagnostics in the link I posted ?

 

[Highway Man]

Looking at it now

Did you follow through the diagnostics in the link I posted ?

In all honesty not yet :bashbut I am looking at it now and I think I need to follow the steps contained in it to really do it right. So here we go.

 

[Highway Man]

Strange

Well, after doing some testing this is what I have found. I went back and did a fuel pressure test and the fuel system primed to 46 lb. and slowly went back to 43 lb. where it held so I don't "think" I have a fuel problem. I also pulled the vacuum line off the fuel regulator to see if it was wet with fuel and it wasn't so I don't "think" I have a problem there either. I'm not sure though that the fuel pressure should have dropped those 3 lb. I got a noid light and hooked it to number 1 cylinder and while cranking the engine it lit a few times like it was firing and then quit. So, it looks like I may have an intermittent firing issue. I am going to go out after dark and crank the engine and see if I have plug wires grounding out. I saw one a long time ago and the plug wires were so bad that it was like watching a light show the way the plug wires were jumping fire. The search continues. By the way I don't have any gas smell like I have a lot of gas building up in the system. What do you think? Opti-spark or ecm issues? It could still be bad wiring and as I have stated I am going out after dark and crank it over to look for loose fire. Thanks all!

 

[John Robinson]

TPS Possible



Hope this sheds some light on the tps for you
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Throttle Position Sensor (TPS)
Copied from 1993 Service Manual
The Throttle Position sensor (TPS) is a potentiometer connected to the throttle shaft on the throttle body. It is a potentiometer with one end connected to 5 volts
from the ECM and the other to ECM ground. A third wire is connected to the ECM to measure the voltage from the TP sensor. As the throttle valve angle is changed (accelerator pedal moved), the voltage output of the TP sensor also changes. At a closed throttle position, the voltage output of the TP sensor is low (approximately .5 volt). As the throttle valve opens, the output voltage should be approximately 5 volts.

By monitoring the output voltage from the TP sensor, the ECM can determine fuel delivery based on throttle valve angle (driver demand). A broken or loose TP sensor can cause intermittent burst of fuel from the injectors and cause an unstable idle, because the ECM detects the throttle is moving.

If the TP sensor circuit is open, the ECM will set a DTC 22. If the TP sensor circuit is shorted a DTC 21 will be set. A problem in any of the TP sensor circuits will set either a DTC 21 or 22. Once a DTC is set, the ECM will use a default value for TP sensor, and some vehicle performance will return.

A personal note, when my TPS failed it DID NOT set a code other than to tell me the ECM was bad.



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[Schrade]

Have you checked the ignition module yet? Advance / Zone will check it for free.

It might test good cold, and yet fail when toasty warm...

 

[Highway Man]

starting problems-solved?

Its been awhile since I've been on here but I have a bad ignition control module. Totally gone. Another one will be in tomorrow as it had to be ordered so once it is installed we'll see what happens then! Hopefully that is all it will be. Thanks to all who contributed to this thread and has offered their experience.